Ilion may seek grant for HVAC system

ILION — The Ilion Municipal Building could get a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system if the village puts together a successful grant proposal.

The village completed four "high impact actions" to be designated as a Clean Energy Community under the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority program and village officials are now working on a proposal for a $100,000 grant for additional energy saving projects.

Amanda Kaier, of Patrick Heating in Rome, was on hand at last week’s village board meeting to discuss upgrades the company could make.

The municipal building currently has a steam distribution system.

"It’s noisy and inefficient," she said, adding the steam boiler is only about 80 percent efficient.

She proposed installing a new centralized forced air HVAC system that would handle heating and cooling as well as improving air quality and would be much more efficient.

It would also set the building up for future health, safety and efficiency upgrades, according to Kaier.

She said the project would likely be completed in phases.

The village had a number of other heating vendors in to look at the system, Village Administrator James Kramas said during a telephone interview Wednesday, but the technology was somewhat antiquated and village officials thought the HVAC system would be cheaper and more efficient than oil heat or a steam boiler.

"With steam the building is either hot or cold," he said. "This new system would handle air conditioning needs, ventilation and clean the air. It’s a cleaner, better system."

Kramas said he will be requesting specific information about the scope of work, costs, tasks and timetables for the village board to review. The grant application is due late this month.

The village board approved resolutions for a unified solar permit, energy benchmarking policy requirements for municipal buildings and clean energy upgrades requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Installing new LED street lights was the final action the village completed to be designated as a New York State Clean Energy Community.